My happy life in a courtyard house with triplets.

Chapter 6: Fishing

Soon, the two arrived at an open space, where a group of teenagers were practicing martial arts shirtless, each move and stance quite skillful.

Zhang Lei was somewhat lost in thought when Ye Shuqin noticed his unusual expression and explained with a smile, "Every household in our Ye Family Village practices martial arts; it's a rule passed down from our ancestors."

Hearing this, Zhang Lei asked in confusion, "Has your Ye family lived here for generations?"

Ye Shuqin shook her head and said seriously, "No, I heard from my grandfather that our Ye family migrated from the south because of war. We settled here and built a village because this place is close to the mountains, making it convenient to escape the war."

Listening to Ye Shuqin's explanation, Zhang Lei nodded in understanding, then looked at her with a smile and asked, "Do you know martial arts?"

Ye Shuqin replied with a smile, "Yes, I learned it from my mother. My two younger sisters and I all practice the same kung fu."

At this moment, Zhang Lei couldn't help but ask, "What kind of martial art do you practice?" Ye Shuqin smiled and replied, "I practice Wing Chun."

Upon hearing the words "Wing Chun," Zhang Lei subconsciously sized her up, his face filled with disbelief. He wasn't unfamiliar with Wing Chun; the most famous figure was Grandmaster Ip Man, though he'd only seen it in movies. Moreover, he vaguely remembered that the founder of Wing Chun seemed to be a woman.

At this moment, Zhang Lei looked at Ye Shuqin and continued to ask, "Does everyone else in your family practice martial arts?"

Ye Shuqin patiently explained to Zhang Lei: "My grandfather practices Bajiquan, my grandmother practices Taijiquan, my father practices Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Spear, my mother practices Wing Chun, my eldest brother practices Shaolin Staff, my eldest sister-in-law practices White Crane Fist, my second brother practices Mantis Fist, my second sister-in-law practices Choy Li Fut Fist, my third brother practices Arhat Fist, and my third sister-in-law practices Miao Fist."

Hearing Ye Shuqin's words, Zhang Lei felt a little dizzy and couldn't help but ask, "Why are there so many? Shouldn't it be just one?"

Ye Shuqin smiled and shook her head, explaining, "That's not how it is. All the children in our village can learn these martial arts styles. Of course, the key to martial arts is quality, not quantity. So when the children grow up to a certain age, they will choose a martial art they want to learn and specialize in."

She paused, then continued, "Like my grandfather's Bajiquan, he's the best in our Ye Family Village now. Anyone who wants to learn Bajiquan can go to him; anyone who wants to learn Tai Chi can go to my grandmother. My father's Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Spear technique was also learned from other elders in the village."

After hearing this, Zhang Lei suddenly understood and quickly asked, "So, when you were young, if you wanted to learn a certain style of boxing, you would find the corresponding elder in the village to learn from. Anyone from Ye Family Village could learn?"

Ye Shuqin nodded. Looking at her, Zhang Lei's curiosity grew even stronger, and he asked, "So, how good are you at Wing Chun? Can someone like me learn it?"

Ye Shuqin shook her head again, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I've only just reached a minor level in Wing Chun, so I wouldn't dare to embarrass myself in front of you."

She added, "As for whether you want to learn martial arts, it's not up to me. Our village rarely accepts outsiders to learn boxing. If you really want to learn, you'll have to ask my grandfather and my father."

Hearing this, Zhang Lei wasn't too disappointed. After all, martial arts skills are mostly family heirlooms, unlike the fake techniques that people can learn just by paying money in later generations.

As Zhang Lei and Ye Shuqin walked and talked, Zhang Lei couldn't help but admire the Ye family's ancestors. Not only were they able to pass down so many martial arts skills, but they also allowed future generations to choose from multiple styles instead of forcing them to learn only one. This way, everyone could find the most suitable skill for themselves. It seemed that the Ye family's ancestors were by no means mediocre or pedantic.

Soon, the two reached the riverbank. Looking at the crystal-clear water, Zhang Lei suddenly remembered that he had acquired the skill of fishing proficiency. He immediately felt itchy and couldn't wait to cast a few lines and have some fun.

Seeing Zhang Lei staring intently at the river, Ye Shuqin couldn't help but ask with a smile, "Do you want to eat fish?" Zhang Lei quickly shook his head, "No, no, I just thought the river water was so clear that there must be a lot of fish in it. I just don't know if it's okay to fish here."

Ye Shuqin readily replied, "Of course you can fish. My grandfather has a fishing rod, and he loves to sit by the river and fish every afternoon when he has nothing to do. Shall I go and get his fishing rod for you?"

Hearing that there was a fishing rod, Zhang Lei was overjoyed, but also a little embarrassed, and asked, "Is this appropriate?" Ye Shuqin smiled and waved her hand, "What's inappropriate about it? If my grandfather knew you liked fishing, he would definitely be happy to lend you the fishing rod."

Zhang Lei watched Ye Shuqin run home, and a slight smile crept onto his lips.

In the Ye family's living room, Ye Zhenshan, Li Xiumei, Ye Shouhe, and Zhang Yulan were chatting around the table. Ye Shouhe frowned and asked, puzzled, "Dad, why did you let Shuqin take Zhang Lei around the village? Could it be...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Zhenshan raised his hand to interrupt him. Ye Zhenshan looked at his son and said in a steady tone, "Shouhe, I know what you're worried about. But you also know the situation of Shuqin, Shuqi, and Shuhua. There really aren't any suitable people in our village."

Upon hearing this, Ye Shouhe immediately retorted, "Father, that won't do! Zhang Lei saved my life, and we all know the situation of these three girls. We can't do this."

Ye Zhenshan's tone softened, and he patted his son's shoulder: "Shouhe, I don't mean to force anyone. I just want the children to get along and develop naturally."

Seeing her husband and son arguing heatedly, Li Xiumei quickly intervened, saying, "Alright, you two stop arguing. Zhang Lei just came to our house; we don't even know the details yet. How do you know things won't go smoothly?"

Zhang Yulan, who was standing to the side, remained silent throughout, only gazing out the window, her eyes unconsciously revealing a trace of unconcealed sadness.

Just as the group was lost in their own thoughts, Ye Shuqin burst in like a whirlwind, calling out to Ye Zhenshan in a clear voice, "Grandpa, where's your fishing rod? Get it out quickly, I need to use it!"

Upon hearing that he wanted a fishing rod, Ye Zhenshan immediately hugged the pipe in his arms tightly as if it were his own child, treating it like a precious treasure: "Granddaughter, this won't do! This is the only good fishing rod that Grandpa can handle. You don't know how to fish, don't break it."

Ye Shuqin quickly explained, "Grandpa, it's not that I want to go fishing, it's Brother Zhang Lei who wants to!"

Hearing that Zhang Lei needed it, Ye Zhenshan paused for a moment, then looked at Ye Shuqin to confirm, "Are you serious?"

Ye Shuqin nodded emphatically: "Of course it's true!"

Ye Zhenshan breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hand, "It's in the closet in my bedroom, go get it."

Ye Shuqin responded and turned to run towards the bedroom. On her way, she grabbed some dough from the kitchen.